RecyclingRecycling Green Team: Lesson 2

Reasons to Recycle It is good for the environment. Take responsibility for what you use. Learn about real world science applications. Can potentially reduce our trash costs. It is easier than you think. It is good for the environment. Take responsibility for what you use. Learn about real world science applications. Can potentially reduce our trash costs. It is easier than you think.

General Facts The average person will throw away 600 times their weight in garbage – leaving a legacy of 90,000 pounds of trash. Americans throw away enough office paper annually to build a wall 12 feet high, stretching from LA to New York City. Americans throw away enough aluminum every 3 months to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet. In 2002, less than a fifth of all plastic beverage bottles in the U.S. were recycled. Every minute an average of 113,204 aluminum beverage containers could have been are recycled. Plastic makes up 8% of our trash by weight, but is 24% of the volume! As much as 80% of trash could be diverted into recycling. All Eanes ISD schools have on-site recycling for paper, aluminum and plastic. The average person will throw away 600 times their weight in garbage – leaving a legacy of 90,000 pounds of trash. Americans throw away enough office paper annually to build a wall 12 feet high, stretching from LA to New York City. Americans throw away enough aluminum every 3 months to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet. In 2002, less than a fifth of all plastic beverage bottles in the U.S. were recycled. Every minute an average of 113,204 aluminum beverage containers could have been are recycled. Plastic makes up 8% of our trash by weight, but is 24% of the volume! As much as 80% of trash could be diverted into recycling. All Eanes ISD schools have on-site recycling for paper, aluminum and plastic.

Can We Really Make a Difference ? Recycling just one ton of paper saves: 17 trees 6,953 gallons of water 463 gallons of oil 587 pounds of air pollution 3 cubic yards of landfill space 4,077 Kilowatt-hours of energy Recycling just one ton of paper saves: 17 trees 6,953 gallons of water 463 gallons of oil 587 pounds of air pollution 3 cubic yards of landfill space 4,077 Kilowatt-hours of energy Recycling just one aluminum can saves 4 hrs of electricity to run a laptop 1 cup of gasoline. Recycling just one aluminum can saves 4 hrs of electricity to run a laptop 1 cup of gasoline. Aluminum: Recycling aluminum reduces energy use by 90%. Recycling aluminum reduces air pollution by 95%. Each pound of aluminum makes 32 cans. Aluminum: Recycling aluminum reduces energy use by 90%. Recycling aluminum reduces air pollution by 95%. Each pound of aluminum makes 32 cans. Plastic: 5 recycled bottles to make 1 sq ft of carpet. Can easily be recycled T- shirts, sweaters, and socks. 35 bottles make the soft filling inside a sleeping bag, Plastic: 5 recycled bottles to make 1 sq ft of carpet. Can easily be recycled T- shirts, sweaters, and socks. 35 bottles make the soft filling inside a sleeping bag,

Recycling Steps 1. Reduce Think before you buy. Do I really need this? Am I using what I have responsibly and not wasting it? Is there a better alternative like permanent water bottles or cups? Use both sides of paper when you print or copy things. 2. Reuse or Repurpose Many “disposable” items can be used more than once. That plastic bottle could be cleaned & refilled with more water. Many items can be re-purposed. Think outside of the box & get creative. Those candy wrappers could be folded into a neat bracelet. Donate gently used furniture, clothing, dishes, etc to a local charity shop. 3. Recycle Our schools recycle aluminum, glass, plastic, tin cans, paperboard, office paper & cardboard. Several schools go a step further and have composting. Most homes have recycling available curbside. 1. Reduce Think before you buy. Do I really need this? Am I using what I have responsibly and not wasting it? Is there a better alternative like permanent water bottles or cups? Use both sides of paper when you print or copy things. 2. Reuse or Repurpose Many “disposable” items can be used more than once. That plastic bottle could be cleaned & refilled with more water. Many items can be re-purposed. Think outside of the box & get creative. Those candy wrappers could be folded into a neat bracelet. Donate gently used furniture, clothing, dishes, etc to a local charity shop. 3. Recycle Our schools recycle aluminum, glass, plastic, tin cans, paperboard, office paper & cardboard. Several schools go a step further and have composting. Most homes have recycling available curbside.

Mixed Recycling Currently, the Eanes ISD uses Central Texas Refuse single stream recycling dumpsters, cardboard only dumpsters & trash dumpsters. Paper Retriever for paper only recycling. - Aluminum - Plastic #1 - #7 - Paperboard - Tin, Steel, Glass - Paper Bags & Cardboard - Paper, Junk Mail, Magazine

Trash Collection Currently, the Eanes ISD uses Central Texas Refuse for trash as well as recycling dumpsters and cardboard dumpsters. And Paper Retriever for paper recycling. Non Recyclable - Ceramics- Cloth- Food Scraps - Leaves / Grass- Light Bulbs- Electronics - Wood- Styrofoam- Wax coated items - Ceramics- Cloth- Food Scraps - Leaves / Grass- Light Bulbs- Electronics - Wood- Styrofoam- Wax coated items * Many things that can’t be recycled can be re-used, re-purposed, composted or donated.

CompostingComposting - Food Scraps - Meat, Dairy - Fruit, Veggies - Eggs, Bread - Food Scraps - Meat, Dairy - Fruit, Veggies - Eggs, Bread -Leaves / Grass -Tree Branches -Wood, untreated -Leaves / Grass -Tree Branches -Wood, untreated -Paper Plates, Paper Cups -Paper Towels, Napkins, Milk Carton

Good for Everybody Recycling Saves Energy - less energy to reuse item than create new item Recycling Reduces Air Pollution - less pollution from factories Recycling Prevents Water Pollution - less chemicals leaking from landfill to water Recycling reduces the scarcity of Landfills - avoids taking up space in landfills Helps Eanes ISD - recycling dumpster cost less than trash dumpster Economic Benefits - creates green jobs Recycling Saves Energy - less energy to reuse item than create new item Recycling Reduces Air Pollution - less pollution from factories Recycling Prevents Water Pollution - less chemicals leaking from landfill to water Recycling reduces the scarcity of Landfills - avoids taking up space in landfills Helps Eanes ISD - recycling dumpster cost less than trash dumpster Economic Benefits - creates green jobs

Get Involved Ask teachers & parents how you can increase recycling at your school. Remind fellow students & staff to put things in the correct recycling bin. See if you need more recycling containers. Make posters to encourage people to recycling Compete among classrooms to reduce trash Compare your schools monthly trash bill to other schools. Ask teachers & parents how you can increase recycling at your school. Remind fellow students & staff to put things in the correct recycling bin. See if you need more recycling containers. Make posters to encourage people to recycling Compete among classrooms to reduce trash Compare your schools monthly trash bill to other schools.

Activity: Get Creative Make Something Out of Materials that Would Normally Be Thrown Out Easy: Reuse a copy paper box & decorate to be a paper recycle container. Advanced: make a magnet out of bottle caps or a prom dress from candy wrappers, the ideas are endless Make Something Out of Materials that Would Normally Be Thrown Out Easy: Reuse a copy paper box & decorate to be a paper recycle container. Advanced: make a magnet out of bottle caps or a prom dress from candy wrappers, the ideas are endless - Bottle Caps - Capri Sun pouch - Magazine Paper - Candy Wrappers

Suggested Reading Elementary Green Crafts for Children : 35 Step-by-Step Projects Using Natural, Recycled & Found Materials by Emma Hardy Earth-friendly Crafts: Clever Ways to Reuse Everyday Items by Kathy Ross Elementary Green Crafts for Children : 35 Step-by-Step Projects Using Natural, Recycled & Found Materials by Emma Hardy Earth-friendly Crafts: Clever Ways to Reuse Everyday Items by Kathy Ross

Suggested Reading Middle School 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse: Remake, Restyle, Recycle, Renew by Garth Johnson Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, & the Science of Ocean Motion by Lorie Griffin Burns Middle School 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse: Remake, Restyle, Recycle, Renew by Garth Johnson Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, & the Science of Ocean Motion by Lorie Griffin Burns

Suggested Reading High School Alternacrafts by Jessica Vitkus Endangered Planet by David Burnie High School Alternacrafts by Jessica Vitkus Endangered Planet by David Burnie